A 21-year-old second navigation officer was arrested Friday following a collision between the cargo ship he was steering and a recreational fishing boat off the coast of Mie Prefecture, Japan, resulting in two fatalities, according to the Toba Coast Guard Office.
The officer, identified as Hanon Sugimoto, is being held on suspicion of professional negligence. The incident occurred when the 499-ton cargo ship reportedly struck the 16-ton fishing boat, splitting its hull in two. Kokichi Taniguchi, 84, and Motohiro Nakagawa, 67, both anglers from Matsusaka, Mie, were pronounced dead at the scene. Ten other individuals, ranging in age from 60 to 80, sustained injuries.
The cargo ship had departed from the port of Kinuura in Aichi Prefecture around 10:00 a.m. Local time, en route to Mizushima, Okayama Prefecture. The fishing boat left a port in Toba around 11:40 a.m. And was anchored near the accident site when the collision occurred.
The United States Coast Guard Academy notes that sea-going officers are responsible for the safe navigation of vessels and the prosecution of assigned missions worldwide, highlighting the significant responsibility held by officers even at a young age. The Japan Transport Safety Board has dispatched four marine accident investigators to determine the cause of the collision.
As of Saturday, February 21, 2026, the Coast Guard has not released further details regarding the circumstances leading to the collision or the specific actions taken by Sugimoto prior to the incident. The investigation is ongoing.
